The next day, the fifth watch drum sounded, and the entire Fengqiao camp began to move as if a sleeping giant had awakened.
"What's that noise? It's so noisy so early in the morning. Do you still have any sense of public morality?!"
Inside the tent, Uncle Zhu Shouren was having a sweet dream when he was suddenly awakened by the sound of drums and trumpets outside. He was so dazed that he couldn't react where he was and he couldn't help cursing.
Hu Wei and Xia Qiang from the clinic were also woken up, but they reacted immediately and quickly stopped Zhu Shouren, "Brother Zhu, be quiet. This is the military drum. It's already the fifth watch. The soldiers in the camp have all gotten up. Let's get up too."
"Oh, I almost forgot. I thought some fellow was having a great time in a brothel." Uncle Zhu Shouren shook his head and complained.
Soon, Hu Wei and Xia Qiang got up. They still remembered what Zhu Ping'an had said last night, asking them to get up after the fifth watch drum sounded and practice or do morning reading together to prepare for the exam.
However, Uncle Zhu Shouren had no intention of getting up. When Hu Wei and Xia Qiang got up, he reached out and pulled up the quilt to cover his head, trying to block out the noise from outside and take another nap.
"Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, didn't your nephew tell us last night to get up after the fifth watch drum sounds and practice or do morning reading to prepare for the exam?"
Xia Qiang walked forward and pulled the quilt of his uncle Zhu Shouren, urging him to get up and reminding him.
Uncle Zhu Shouren pulled the quilt hard and said confidently, "I'm just doing morning reading to prepare for the exam."
"Reading in bed in the morning to prepare for the exam?" Xia Qiang opened his mouth wide.
"Of course. If you don't believe me, listen to me reciting a passage. Confucius said, 'Time flies like a flowing river. It never stops, day or night.'"
Uncle Zhu Shouren's voice came from under the quilt.
"Hey, Brother Zhu, you..."
Xia Qiang wanted to pull Zhu Shouren's quilt again, but was stopped by Hu Wei, who gave Xia Qiang a wink.
After Hu Wei stopped Xia Qiang, he said to Zhu Shouren in the bed, "Since Brother Zhu didn't sleep well, you should sleep for a while. If Lord Zhu asks, we will say that you were studying for the exam in the tent."
"good!"
Uncle Zhu Shouren was very satisfied with this. The weather was too cold, but the quilt was too warm, and it was just right for him to sleep with the quilt wrapped around him. This was his nephew's camp, which was also the Zhu family's camp. If you round it off, it could also be his own camp. Why should he subject himself to such a hardship
After Xia Qiang and Hu Wei left the tent, Xia Qiang asked Hu Wei in a puzzled voice, "Brother Hu, why didn't you let me wake up Brother Zhu? Lord Zhu just told us to wake up after the fifth watch drum sounded last night. If Lord Zhu saw us getting up but didn't see Brother Zhu, what should we say?"
"Brother Xia, you are stupid. You and I know what kind of person Zhu is. Even if we force him to get up, can he honestly follow the drills or read in the morning to prepare for the exam? Besides, Master Zhu has limited positions, and Zhu is Master Zhu's uncle, so he has an advantage over us. Let him sleep if he wants. It's a good opportunity to reduce a competitor. Why not?"
Hu Wei pulled Xia Qiang to a corner and muttered softly.
"This... isn't a good idea..." Xia Qiang was obviously tempted, but still a little hesitant.
"This is also for the good of Lord Zhu. If a Zhu were to usurp a high position beside Lord Zhu, he would be unworthy of the position, and would only hinder Lord Zhu. We are different."
Hu Wei further persuaded.
"Well, Brother Hu is right. A gentleman will die for his friend. We are also doing this for the sake of Lord Zhu."
Xia Qiang nodded vigorously.
The two walked towards Zhu Ping'an's tent together. The guards at the door told them that Lord Zhu had already gotten up and went to practice with the soldiers. After asking about the training location, the two hurried to the training ground.
"Mr. Hu and Mr. Xia are up. Where is uncle?" Zhu Ping'an was running with the soldiers on the parade ground. He saw two people looking around at the entrance of the parade ground, so he ran up to them, greeted them and asked.
"Ahem, sir, let my uncle do the morning reading in the tent to prepare for the exam." Hu Wei coughed and replied weakly.
Zhu Pingan immediately understood what was going on, smiled slightly, and said to the two of them, "Well, since uncle is willing to read in the tent in the morning, then read in the tent in the morning. What about you two, do you want to find a place in the training ground for morning reading, or do you want to run with me first to exercise your body and then read and do your homework in the morning?"
"We are willing to run with you, sir. As for the morning reading, as we said last night, it is not too late for us to do the homework in the evening when we have time. After running, we are willing to share some military affairs with you, sir, and serve you like dogs and horses."
Hu Wei and Xia Qiang replied excitedly.
Zhu Ping'an was not surprised by their choice. He nodded slightly and motioned for them to keep running.
After running 100 meters, the two were still able to keep up. After running 200 meters, they were already out of breath. By the time they ran 400 meters, they could no longer keep up. As for 700 meters, they could no longer run.
"Gentlemen, there is no need to force yourself. Just rest aside. After I finish running, I will take you back to the general's tent to arrange matters." Zhu Ping'an said to the two.
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh..."
Hu Wei and Xia Qiang had long been unable to hold on any longer, and after hearing Zhu Ping'an's words, they both collapsed to the ground.
Zhu Ping'an went jogging on his own.
"Brother Hu, Lord Zhu is a senior official and the commander of an army. Why does he have to practice running with these soldiers? Isn't this self-degrading? As the commander of an army, isn't it enough for him to be able to make plans?"
Xia Qiang slumped on the ground, avoiding the soldiers who were training, and spoke to Hu Wei in a low voice with his hand covering his mouth.
"Eating together and training together, this should be one of Lord Zhu's methods to win over the hearts of the soldiers." Hu Wei looked at Zhu Ping'an who was running with the soldiers in the parade ground. He thought for a moment and replied in a low voice with his hand covering his mouth.
"Oh, I remember now. Famous generals in ancient times were all like this. They ate and lived with the soldiers, and even sucked pus from the soldiers' sores to win their hearts. So that's how it is. Lord Zhu is really good at it. No wonder he can hold such a high position at such a young age."
Xia Qiang said "oh" and suddenly understood. Then he couldn't help but sigh and felt a little more in awe of Zhu Ping'an.
"Hush, it's enough for us to know what's going on. The officials above are all the result of the sacrifices of hundreds of soldiers. We shouldn't be like those stupid soldiers who were deceived by their appearances and die for them. We are here to find a way to advance, not to die." Hu Wei said in a low voice, covering his mouth.
"Yes, Brother Hu is right. When we become officials, we will find a chance to withdraw. Lord Zhu has offended Lord Yan, so he will not last long in the future. He is not someone worth following." Xia Qiang nodded vigorously and said in a low voice.
"Shh, just keep this between you and me." Hu Wei put his finger to his lips, shushed repeatedly, then squinted his eyes and patted his chest.
Xia Qiang patted his chest and nodded vigorously.